Two 50s and 39 at 'field of dreams' fishery

A “field of dreams” is how well-travelled angler Dave Parkes described the Avenue after landing two 50s and a 39-pounder in a single session.

The 67-year-old caught Single Scale at its heaviest-ever weight of 50lb 11oz, then added Captain Scarlett the following day at 50lb 14oz. As he was packing up to leave he managed a 39lb mirror.

Captain Scarlett at 50lb 14oz was the biggest of the trip

The Dudley angler, who has been a member of the Shropshire syndicate for two seasons, told Carpfeeed: “It’s a season’s fishing in two days! I’ve caught seven fish in three sessions this year, more than I did the whole of last year.

“I’ve not done anything different, I’ve stuck to my tried-and-tested tactics, but sometimes you’re in the right place at the right time and get lucky.

“I’m lucky that I retired 17 years ago and I’ve fished all over the world for carp and salmon and trout, but the Avenue is a field of dreams. The fish are there, but catching them is a different matter!”

“The fish in there don’t get so big by not eating, but I call them grazers,” said Dave, “I like food but I’m not likely to want to eat after a big meal – but if you offered me a little chocolate I’d probably take it. I think that applies to the carp sometimes.”

Dave presented his hookbait on a 6ins combi rig made with fluorocarbon, Korda N-Trap and a Gamakatsu G2 Hard hook. He tamed the fish on Korda Kontour mainline and Greys AirCurve rods.